UNW Scholarships
Learn about the scholarships we offer for each type of student.
Are you a traditional undergraduate student in search of a scholarship to help pay your tuition? Find out more about what scholarships are available to you and how much money you could potentially save.
Scholarships for first-time college students
Annual, Renewable
Freshmen scholarships are based on the student’s unweighted high school GPA. Students who have earned college credits in high school are still considered freshmen for scholarship purposes. The names and amounts for the following scholarships are effective for new Northwestern students enrolling in fall 2025. Financial Aid recipients prior to fall 2025 are governed by the scholarship names and amounts awarded when they enrolled.
Scholarship Amounts for Fall 2025
Test scores are not required for students to receive an academic merit scholarship, but students are encouraged to submit them if available.
| Scholarship | GPA (Unweighted) | Test Score* | Yearly Value |
| Presidential |
3.90-4.00 |
32 ACT or 1420 SAT or higher |
$18,000 |
| Presidential |
3.99-4.00 |
26 ACT or 1230 SAT or higher |
$18,000 |
|
Presidential |
3.99-4.00 |
Rigorous Coursework** |
$18,000 |
| Deans |
3.90-3.98 |
No test score required |
$16,000 |
| Deans |
3.60-3.89 |
29 ACT or 1330 SAT or higher |
$16,000 |
| Faculty |
3.60-3.89 |
No test score required |
$14,000 |
| Faculty |
3.15-3.59 |
26 ACT or 1230 SAT or higher |
$14,000 |
| Founders |
3.15-3.59 |
No test score required |
$11,000 |
| Founders |
3.14 or less |
24 ACT or 1160 SAT or higher |
$11,000 |
| Directors |
3.14 or less |
No test score required |
$7,000 |
*Composite or Total Test Score
**Rigorous Coursework is meant to show that the student has challenged themselves by taking college-level coursework while in high school.
Scholarship awards are prorated for students taking less than a full-time credit load (12+). Undergraduate Online Learning course credits do not apply.
Estimate your scholarships
Find out your scholarship and financial aid options with our Net Price Calculator.
Scholarships for transfer students
Annual, Renewable
Transfer students who have earned college credit from a different college or university after graduating from high school are eligible for the transfer scholarship. The names, awarding criteria and amounts for the following scholarships are effective for new Northwestern transfer students enrolling in fall 2025. Financial Aid recipients prior to fall 2025 are governed by the scholarship names, criteria and amounts when they enrolled.
Scholarship Amounts for Fall 2025
| Scholarship | GPA (Unweighted) | Yearly Value |
|
Presidential |
3.95-4.00 | $18,000 |
| Deans | 3.70-3.94 | $16,000 |
| Faculty | 3.20-3.69 | $14,000 |
| Founders | 2.80-3.19 | $11,000 |
| Directors | 2.79 or less | $7,000 |
Scholarship awards are prorated for students taking less than a full-time credit load (12+). Undergraduate Online Learning course credits do not apply.
Mosaic Leadership Scholarship: up to 90% of tuition*
Annual, Renewable
Must be a Minnesota resident
These competitive awards are presented each year to new incoming students who demonstrate interest in working towards Biblical righteousness and harmony among followers of Christ and the broader society. This student should embrace diversity and belonging efforts for ethnical and racial harmony. The application is open now, and more details available.
Mosaic is only available to students starting at UNW during the Fall 2025 term. Application Deadline: January 1, 2025
*Not including room and board cost
*Includes federal and state grants
Music Scholarship: Up to $8,000
Annual, Renewable
Merit-based music scholarships are available to music majors/minors and music ensemble participants; to both new and continuing students typically ranging from $1,000–$8,000 annually. In addition, selected students receive a renewable $1,500 UNW Music Grant that can offset private lesson study at UNW. New students are awarded scholarships through the music audition application process. Returning students apply online through a hyperlink sent from music office staff. More information can be found in Music Application and Scholarship or call the Department of Music & Theatre at (651) 631-5218 or (888) 878-5514.
Theatre Arts Scholarship: Up to $4,000
Annual, Renewable
Scholarships are awarded each year to incoming theatre majors and minors through an audition process each spring. These awards carry the expectation of active involvement on stage and/or backstage. View the Theatre Scholarship Information for further details or contact theatre arts at (651) 286-7536 or via email at [email protected].
Endowed Scholarships for Continuing Students: $500 or more
$500 and up
Students who have attended at least one semester at Northwestern and have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher will be considered. Students fill out an online scholarship application to apply for these awards. Awards are announced in April and are made the following fall and spring semesters. You must apply for these scholarships each year.
Ministry scholarships
Northwestern awards approximately fifty scholarships annually to currently enrolled ministry majors. These scholarships are in addition to the financial aid package that students normally receive from Northwestern when they apply. We are blessed by approximately 20 scholarship and memorial funds that have been established for the express purpose of blessing ministry majors. Current students apply using the Endowed Scholarship process discussed above.
International students
Most international students are not eligible to receive state or federal assistance. However, students can apply for Northwestern aid based on previous academic achievements. International students must complete a Financial Verification Form (FVF). The application deadline is May 1. International students may also qualify for up to 20 hours of work on campus per week. Students should contact their admissions counselor with any questions regarding financial assistance.
Pittman Scholars Grant
A premier, Christ-centered college education can be affordable to you. The Pittman Scholars Grant is a financial award of 75 percent of tuition cost that includes federal and state grants but does not cover room and board costs. View the Pittman Scholars Grant for further details.
Private Scholarships
While private scholarship searching takes time, it has the potential to earn you thousands in just a few hours. Jump-start your private scholarship with these resources.
- Access Scholarships is a customizable scholarship search engine that can help you find a scholarship just right for you!
- Scholarship America is an organized collection of scholarships for high school students, current undergraduate students, and graduate students.
Websites also offer information about private scholarship options. Northwestern is not connected to, nor does it endorse, the companies or the awards listed on the sites linked below. Legitimate companies never charge an application fee for the award they are offering and we do not recommend paying a company for the scholarship for which you are applying.
- Practical Tips to Pay for College
- Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid offers information on financial aid for college and tips on how to help ease the burden of college expenses.
